Editorial Material
Rheumatology
Denis Poddubnyy, Torsten Diekhoff, Xenofon Baraliakos, Kay Geert A. Hermann, Joachim Sieper
Summary: This article discusses whether MRI can replace radiographs for diagnostic evaluation and classification of axial spondyloarthritis, and provides answers to specific questions based on current data.
ANNALS OF THE RHEUMATIC DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Biology
Anca Emanuela Musetescu, Anca Bobirca, Florin Liviu Gherghina, Alesandra Florescu, Florin Bobirca, Paulina Lucia Ciurea, Cristina Criveanu, Alice Musca, Lucian Mihai Florescu, Ioana Andreea Gheonea
Summary: This study aimed to assess the performance of rheumatologists in interpreting inflammatory and structural damage to sacroiliac joints in axSpA patients, compared to radiologists. The results showed substantial agreement between senior and junior radiologists, as well as between senior radiologists and senior rheumatologists, while moderate agreement was observed with junior rheumatologists.
Review
Physiology
Clement Prati, Thierry Lequerre, Benoit Le Goff, Bernard Cortet, Hechmi Toumi, Anne Tournadre, Hubert Marotte, Eric Lespessailles
Summary: A detailed anatomical description of the sacroiliac joint is crucial for understanding spondyloarthropathy, as sacroiliitis is its earliest and most common sign. Additionally, understanding the histopathology and immunological mechanisms of sacroiliac entheses is essential for comprehending the disease causation. This review focuses on the anatomical, histological, and immunohistological observations related to the development of sacroiliitis and discusses the sequencing of enthesitis, synovitis, and subchondral bone changes in spondyloarthropathy.
FRONTIERS IN PHYSIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Churong Lin, Dong Liu, Budian Liu, Jieruo Gu
Summary: This study investigated the distribution pattern of acute and chronic lesions in the sacroiliac joints (SIJ) of patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA). The results showed that there was no specific distribution pattern of these lesions in different SIJ sections, except for a higher occurrence rate of erosions in the iliac sections.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF GENERAL MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Rheumatology
Torsten Diekhoff, Iris Eshed, Felix Radny, Katharina Ziegeler, Fabian Proft, Juliane Greese, Dominik Deppe, Robert Biesen, Kay Geert Hermann, Denis Poddubnyy
Summary: The study found that compared to CT and MRI, X-ray had lower sensitivity and inferior specificity for axSpA. However, CT showed the best inter-rater reliability, highlighting the importance of structural lesions for the differential diagnosis in axSpA.
ANNALS OF THE RHEUMATIC DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Liudan Tu, Churong Lin, Ya Xie, Xiaohong Wang, Qiujing Wei, Yanli Zhang, Jieruo Gu
Summary: This study found that patients with radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (r-axSpA) showed more active inflammatory and chronic structural damages on MRI compared to non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (nr-axSpA) patients, especially in terms of fat metaplasia and ankylosis.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Rheumatology
Katharina Ziegeler, Virginie Kreutzinger, Fabian Proft, Denis Poddubnyy, Kay Geert A. Hermann, Torsten Diekhoff
Summary: This study found that patients with mechanical joint disease had the highest proportion of atypical joints, with females showing significantly higher proportions than males, and symptomatic joint disease males having significantly higher proportions of atypical joints compared to controls.
Review
Rheumatology
Juergen Braun, Uta Kiltz, Xenofon Baraliakos
Summary: Axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) is a chronic inflammatory rheumatic disease primarily affecting the axial skeleton, with treatments aimed at reducing new bone formation to slow disease progression.
ANNALS OF THE RHEUMATIC DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Rheumatology
Thomas Renson, Philippe Carron, Ann-Sophie De Craemer, Liselotte Deroo, Manouk de Hooge, Simon Krabbe, Lennart Jans, Min Chen, Mikkel Ostergaard, Filip E. Van den Bosch, Dirk Elewaut
Summary: A high prevalence of sacroiliitis on MRI was observed in patients with early pSpA, with significant decrease in SPARCC scores on TNF inhibition during clinical remission. Residual inflammation on MRI was not predictive of relapse of peripheral manifestations, and no relevant inflammatory spinal involvement was detected. Our findings suggest a higher inflammatory burden in early pSpA patients than expected.
ANNALS OF THE RHEUMATIC DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Rheumatology
Valeria Rios Rodriguez, Maria Llop, Mikhail Protopopov, Joachim Sieper, Hildren Haibel, Fabian Proft, Martin Rudwaleit, Denis Poddubnyy
Summary: The study found that assessment of sacroiliitis in AP lumbar radiographs in patients with axSpA is as reliable and valid as in conventional pelvic radiographs.
Article
Rheumatology
Dominik Deppe, Kay-Geert Hermann, Fabian Proft, Denis Poddubnyy, Felix Radny, Mikhail Protopopov, Marcus R. Makowski, Torsten Diekhoff
Summary: In patients with axSpA, SWI depicts erosions and sclerosis more accurately than T1 spin echo MRI at 1.5T.
Article
Rheumatology
X. Baraliakos, A. Ghadir, M. Fruth, U. Kiltz, I. Reddeker, J. Braun
Summary: Pathologic sacroiliac joint changes on MRI are important for the classification of axial SpA. Radiologists play a major role in interpreting imaging findings. Bone marrow edema and sclerosis have the highest sensitivity, while erosions and fatty lesions have the highest specificity for axial SpA diagnosis.
ARTHRITIS & RHEUMATOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Rheumatology
X. Baraliakos, A. Ghadir, M. Fruth, U. Kiltz, I Redeker, J. Braun
Summary: The study evaluated the impact of MRI SI joint findings on the identification of axial SpA by radiologists, finding that structural changes in the SI joint, alone or in combination with BME, had the highest diagnostic value in patients with suspected axial SpA. The presence of bone marrow edema in combination with erosions had the highest positive predictive value for diagnosing axial SpA.
ARTHRITIS & RHEUMATOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Rheumatology
Victoria Navarro-Compan, Alexandre Sepriano, Bassel El-Zorkany, Desiree van der Heijde
Summary: Axial spondyloarthritis is a chronic inflammatory disease primarily affecting the axial skeleton, leading to symptoms such as chronic back pain and spinal stiffness. Diagnosis relies on recognizing clinical patterns and utilizing clinical, laboratory, and imaging features. Treatment options include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs as first-line therapy, with biologics as a second-line option, showing efficacy in improving disease symptoms.
ANNALS OF THE RHEUMATIC DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Rheumatology
Mariagrazia Lorenzin, Augusta Ortolan, Stefania Vio, Giacomo Cozzi, Vanna Scapin, Giorgio De Conti, Andrea Doria, Roberta Ramonda
Summary: This study aimed to assess the influence of psoriasis on early-stage axial spondyloarthritis. The results showed that patients with psoriasis had distinct features of axial spondyloarthritis and increased spinal radiographic progression and low-grade radiographic sacroiliitis.
Letter
Rheumatology
Dafna D. Gladman, Philip J. Mease, Paul Bird, Enrique R. Soriano, Soumya D. Chakravarty, May Shawi, Frederic Lavie, Cinty Gong, Evan Leibowitz, Denis Poddubnyy, Lai-Shan Tam, Philip S. Helliwell, Arthur Kavanaugh, Atul A. Deodhar, Mikkel Ostergaard, Xenofon Baraliakos
ANNALS OF THE RHEUMATIC DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Rheumatology
Katharina Ziegeler, Sevtap Tugce Ulas, Denis Poddubnyy, Fabian Proft, Valeria Rios Rodriguez, Judith Rademacher, Kay Geert A. Hermann, Torsten Diekhoff
Summary: Joint shape variations are associated with inflammatory lesions on SI joint MRIs in axSpA patients. This should be taken into consideration in future research on the interplay of mechanical strain and inflammation in axSpA.
Review
Rheumatology
Katinka Albrecht, Denis Poddubnyy, Jan Leipe, Philipp Sewerin, Christof Iking-Konert, Roger Scholz, Klaus Krueger
Summary: This study provides updated recommendations on the use of anti-inflammatory medication for patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases prior to surgery. The recommendations cover glucocorticoids, conventional synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs, biologics, and newer drugs and targeted synthetic DMARDs. The study highlights the importance of reducing glucocorticoid dose before surgery and suggests specific guidelines for different medications.
ZEITSCHRIFT FUR RHEUMATOLOGIE
(2023)
Article
Rheumatology
Victoria Navarro-Compan, Anne Boel, Annelies Boonen, Philip J. Mease, Maxime Dougados, Uta Kiltz, Robert B. M. Landewe, Xenofon Baraliakos, Wilson Bautista-Molano, Praveena Chiowchanwisawakit, Hanne Dagfinrud, Lara Fallon, Marco Garrido-Cumbrera, Lianne Gensler, Bassel Kamal ElZorkany, Nigil Haroon, Yu Heng Kwan, Pedro M. Machado, Walter Maksymowych, Anna Molto, Natasha de Peyrecave, Denis Poddubnyy, Mikhail Protopopov, Sofia Ramiro, In-Ho Song, Salima van Weely, Desiree van der Heijde
Summary: This study aims to define the instruments for the Assessment of SpondyloArthritis international Society-Outcomes Measures in Rheumatology core domain set for axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA). The study selected core outcome instruments through a systematic literature review and assessment of the instruments' psychometric properties. Additionally, the study endorsed additional instruments to enhance the evaluation of axSpA trials.
ANNALS OF THE RHEUMATIC DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Rheumatology
Anne C. Regierer, Anja Weiss, Uta Kiltz, Joachim Sieper, Ilka Schwarze, Martin Bohl-Buehler, Herbert Kellner, Denis Poddubnyy, Angela Zink, Juergen Braun, Joachim Listing, Anja Strangfeld
Summary: The study aimed to assess the sensitivity to change of ASAS HI in comparison with established variables of disease activity, function, and mental health in patients with axSpA. The results showed that ASAS HI had moderate sensitivity to changes in physical function and mental health, but lower sensitivity to changes in disease activity.
JOURNAL OF RHEUMATOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Rheumatology
Mikhail Protopopov, Fabian Proft, Stephanie Wichuk, Pedro M. Machado, Robert G. Lambert, Ulrich Weber, Susanne Juhl Pedersen, Mikkel Ostergaard, Joachim Sieper, Martin Rudwaleit, Xenofon Baraliakos, Walter P. Maksymowych, Denis Poddubnyy
Summary: This study compares the ability of MRI and conventional radiography to detect structural lesions indicative of axSpA.
Review
Rheumatology
Katinka Albrecht, Sebastian Binder, Kirsten Minden, Denis Poddubnyy, Anne C. Regierer, Anja Strangfeld, Johanna Callhoff
Summary: This study aimed to update the estimated prevalence of inflammatory rheumatic diseases (IRD) in Germany. The results showed that the prevalence of IRD in Germany is estimated to be 2.2-3.0%, with approximately 1.5-2.1 million affected individuals. However, the reliability of these data is uncertain due to the limitations of the studies.
ZEITSCHRIFT FUR RHEUMATOLOGIE
(2023)
Correction
Radiology, Nuclear Medicine & Medical Imaging
Keno K. Bressem, Lisa C. Adams, Fabian Proft, Kay Geert A. Hermann, Torsten Diekhoff, Laura Spiller, Stefan M. Niehues, Marcus R. Makowski, Bernd Hamm, Mikhail Protopopov, Valeria Rios Rodriguez, Hildurn Haibel, Judith Rademacher, Murat Torgutalp, Robert G. Lambert, Xenofon Baraliakos, Walter P. Maksymowych, Janis L. Vahldiek, Denis Poddubny
Article
Rheumatology
Torsten Diekhoff, Denis Poddubnyy, Fabian Proft, Katharina Ziegeler, Dominik Deppe, Christoph Niedermeier, Kay Geert A. Hermann
Summary: By comparing CT and MRI scans of patients with axial SpA, it was found that joint space lesions show increased density and may contain calcified matrix, suggesting new bone formation. The proportion of calcified matrix gradually increases in type C lesions.
Review
Rheumatology
Katinka Albrecht, Sebastian Binder, Kirsten Minden, Denis Poddubnyy, Anne C. C. Regierer, Anja Strangfeld, Johanna Callhoff
Summary: This study aimed to update the prevalence estimates of inflammatory rheumatic diseases (IRD) in Germany. A systematic literature search identified original articles on prevalences for the period 2014-2022. The prevalence of IRD in Germany was estimated to be 2.2-3.0%, corresponding to approximately 1.5-2.1 million affected individuals.
ZEITSCHRIFT FUR RHEUMATOLOGIE
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Dominik Deppe, Katharina Ziegeler, Kay Geert A. Hermann, Fabian Proft, Denis Poddubnyy, Felix Radny, Marcus R. R. Makowski, Maximilian Muhle, Torsten Diekhoff
Summary: This study aimed to evaluate the ability of low-dose dual-energy computed tomography (ld-DECT) virtual non-calcium (VNCa) images to detect bone marrow pathologies in patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA). Sixty-eight patients underwent both ld-DECT and MRI for assessment. The accuracy of ld-DECT in detecting osteitis and fatty bone marrow deposition was evaluated, and correlations with MRI were calculated. The results showed that ld-DECT had limited sensitivity and specificity in detecting these pathologies, and higher radiation might be needed for more accurate analysis.
Article
Rheumatology
Uta Kiltz, Mitsumasa Kishimoto, Jessica A. Walsh, Percival Sampaio-Barros, Manish Mittal, Christopher D. Saffore, Peter Wung, Fabiana Ganz, Ana Biljan, Denis Poddubnyy
Summary: This study evaluated the effect of Upadacitinib vs. placebo on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and work productivity in patients with active non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (nr-axSpA). The results showed that Upadacitinib provided clinically meaningful improvements in HRQoL and work productivity.
RHEUMATOLOGY AND THERAPY
(2023)
Article
Rheumatology
Anne Constanze Regierer, Anja Weiss, Fabian Proft, Xenofon Baraliakos, Frank Behrens, Denis Poddubnyy, Georg Schett, Hanns-Martin Lorenz, Matthias Worsch, Anja Strangfeld
Summary: This study compared the differences between psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA). The results showed that there were significant differences between patients with axial involvement in PsA (axPsA) and patients with axSpA accompanied by psoriasis (axSpA+pso), regardless of whether it was clinically or radiologically defined.
Article
Surgery
Lennard M. Wurm, Julian R. Andresen, Justyna Reinke, Denis Poddubnyy, Wolfgang Ertel, Michal W. Jagielski
Summary: In this study, we evaluated a rare case of a male patient diagnosed with juvenile idiopathic arthritis. The patient presented with atraumatic femoral head necrosis, traumatic medial femoral neck fracture, and peri-implant femoral fracture. After undergoing multiple surgical interventions, the patient's PCT and CRP infection parameters drastically increased, revealing an atypical rheumatic etiology.
JOURNAL OF SURGICAL CASE REPORTS
(2023)
